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Fast growing fire safety and security tech business ABCA Systems has made its fourth acquisition in eight weeks.

The North Tyneside-based provider of alarm systems, fire extinguishers and emergency lighting, among other products, has bought Prescot-based Citrus Group for an undisclosed sum. Private equity-backed ABCA said the move will boost its capabilities in electrical compliance and expand its footprint across the north.

It is the latest in a flurry of acquisitions for ABCA, which last year - prior to the deals - reported turnover of more than £37m. In September, the business revealed it had bought up Southport’s Maintec, Blackburn's AGS Tech and Wigan's HBS Fabrication Northwest, which collectively brought another £10m turnover to ABCA's profit and loss sheet.

Phillip Miller, group CEO of ABCA Systems, said: "Citrus aligns perfectly with our strategy to broaden our capabilities in key regions and service areas like electrical compliance, which are relevant to our existing and new customers and where we see growing demand. The Citrus team’s expertise and dedication to safety and quality make them a valuable addition to ABCA.

"We are excited about the opportunities this partnership will unlock for both companies as we continue to grow and diversify our offerings. Once again, our company motto of getting 'the right people, at the right place and at the right time' remains at the core of our values and growth strategy. We are thrilled to welcome the Citrus team to the ABCA family.”

Jack Stockton, co-owner of Citrus Group, said: "Joining ABCA Systems is a natural progression for Citrus Group. Through this sale to ABCA, we will be able to extend our expertise and services into the Electrical Compliance space more effectively, which will only strengthen our offering to local authorities and housing associations."

Michael Barnes, co-owner of Citrus Group, said: "ABCA’s vision and values closely mirror ours. This partnership will allow us to grow further, while continuing to provide the high-quality service that our clients expect and trust."

Ali Khanbhai, chairman of ABCA and partner and co-founder of private equity firm Trimountain, said: "The highly strategic acquisition of Citrus highlights ABCA's unwavering commitment to expanding its capabilities and geographic reach as we continue our mission to better serve our customers and in turn, cement ABCA’s position as one of the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s leading Fire, Security and Electrical Compliance Solutions providers.

"Whilst we continue to grow at pace organically, we remain focused on identifying further acquisitions such as Citrus which we believe will enable us to support our customers, enhance value and importantly bring more talented people into our team.”

Phil Batson, managing director of ABCA Systems, said: "The addition of Citrus Group to our portfolio is a significant step forward for ABCA. Their expertise in electrical installations and compliance perfectly complements our existing services, allowing us to offer a more comprehensive solution to our clients. We look forward to working closely with the Citrus team and are confident that this partnership will drive mutual growth and success."

Last week, Mr Miller was one of four North East business leaders included in the LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders list for 2024.